Three-quarters of the EU has no 4G coverage, and fourth-generation services are practically non-existent in rural areas.

According to the European Commission, only one-quarter of the EU's population lives within reach of a 4G LTE network. For those living in more remote areas, that figure drops to practically zero, the EC said on Thursday.

At the 4G-free end of the spectrum are three countries with no operators offering fourth-generation services: Cyprus, Malta and Ireland. There are, however, three countries with what the EC calls an "advanced 4G rollout": Germany, Estonia, and Sweden.